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The deadline for WNBA contract offers has passed and one star has been left a free agent.
Chennedy Carter, who played for the Chicago Sky last season, is an unrestricted free agent despite being the team’s leading scorer.
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Carter averaged 17.5 points per game in 2024, enjoying a strong season for the Sky but now finds herself looking for a new home.
The 26-year-old’s lack of a contract offer came as a surprise considering that a qualifying offer is a one-year, non-guaranteed terms deal which means very little risk for the team that offers it.
Although WNBA insider Annie Costabile claim sources close to the league say that Chicago were motivated by off-court issues to cut Carter from the team.
“Players were unhappy with the dynamic created in the locker room last year due to Carter’s behavior, which went unchecked by former coach Teresa Weatherspoon,” Costabile revealed in her report.
“There was concern within the team regarding how re-signing Carter would impact the Sky’s chances of landing other free agents.”
Carter’s exit comes not long after Chicago Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca said that the 26-year-old could “impact the game at the highest level”.
Now the former Sky player has taken to social media to boast about her own record, responding to fans theories on the departure which included a graphic ranking her second in the league for one skill in particular.
“I think the ability to consistently make layups just puts anyone in a different tier! So important to score easy!,” Carter posted on X.
It comes hours after Reese posted a cryptic message of her own on social media following a frenzy about Carter’s exit.
“What’s understood don’t need to be explained!,” Reese wrote on X.
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Fans online were quick to question the Sky’s decision to part ways with Carter, with some citing the lack of transparency over the decision and the fact they have lost their leading scorer.
“So now that the Chicago Sky have decided to let their leading scorer, Chennedy Carter go for virtually nothing in return, when are we going to find out the real reason why?,” one fan posted on X.
One fan claimed Carter was clearly throwing shade on Reese with the graphic she replied to ranking Reese the lowest in the league.
“Even if this isn’t a shot at “anyone” it seems like it is. We all know who is synonymous with missed layups until proven otherwise in 2025,” another fan posted.
“You’re among the best guards in the game and top 3 slasher to the hoop. Looking forward to watching where you end up in the W. Any team will be lucky to have you,” one fan wrote on X.
Chicago Sky GM’s Pagilocca has defending the decison to not offer a new contract to Carter, citing that staff and roster changes have forced the team’s hand.
“Chennedy had an incredible season for us last year,” Pagliocca said in a statement to the Sun-Times.
“However, we’ve made changes to our staff and will make changes to our roster. Those changes impact Chennedy’s fit on the team, so we wanted to give her the best opportunity as a free agent.”
The 26-year-old is currently in action for the Wuhan Shengfan in China as the WNBA off-season continues while Reese is in the thick of it in Miami as the Unrivaled action carries on.
